of Your salvation."
Psalm 51:12
A Christian said to his friend, "I don't know what's wrong, but I don't seem to have the joy I once had. It used to be a joy for me to go to church and I enjoyed the fellowship with the people. Now it's like marking another activity off my list of things to do. What's wrong with our church?" His friend said, "I think the church is doing well. Could the problem be with you?" He responded, "Yes, it could be with me. Maybe I'm in the wrong church." His friend replied, "What about your relationship with God?" He thought, and said, "That just may be the problem. I feel like I've drifted away from Him."
David, the psalmist, drifted away from his relationship with God. He was certainly still a believer, but his secret sin robbed him from the joy of the Lord. He came to the point of confessing his sin to God. Then he prayed, "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation." His own sin robbed him of joy. When we confess our sins, God's Spirit restores our joy (1 John 1:9; Galatians 5:22).
Is there joy in your life? Our joy comes from God as a fruit of the Holy Spirit working in us. One of the great benefits of knowing God in a personal relationship is the joy of His presence. Sin grieves the Holy Spirit who brings us such joy. After we confess our sins, the joy can be restored. Sin says, "If you follow me, I can give you the pleasure you have always wanted." Joy says, "I come from God to fill your life. If you confess your sins, I will restore you." If you have drifted away from God, return unto Him for forgiveness, that the joy may be restored.
Prayer: God, restore unto us the joy of salvation, in Jesus name.
